SAS9.4 Enterprise Guide 8.3 proc sgplot minor tick marks issue

[MarieRall]

Hi All,
I hope someone will be able to assist me. I'm trying to draw a bar graph using monthly data fromMarch2014 to Jan2024, but my x-axis minor tick values comes out all squashed.

My code is as follows:

proc sgplot data=INDIRECT_COSTS;
vline OBS_DATE / response=Indirect_Cost_Perc;
yaxis label="Indirect Cost%";
xaxis label="Observation Date" minor minorcount=10;
keylegend / noborder;
run;

I've also tried the following code, but then I loose the detail:

proc sgplot data=INDIRECT_COSTS;
   vline OBS_DATE / response=Indirect_Cost_Perc;
   yaxis label="Indirect Cost%";
   xaxis label="Observation Date"  interval=month values=('01JAN2006'd to '01JUN2023'd by 120);
   keylegend / noborder;
run;

[MarieRall]

I found the solution. Instead of using "vline", I used "series" and that resolved my problem of the time series graphs. However I still have an issue if I want to create bars by date.

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hello @MarieRall and welcome to the SAS Support Communities!

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@MarieRall wrote:

I still have an issue if I want to create bars by date.

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Here is an example plotting bars by date:

/* Create sample data for demonstration */

data have;
obs_date='01JAN2006'd;
Indirect_Cost_Perc=0.0064;
do i=1 to 208;
  sign=sign(Indirect_Cost_Perc);
  output;
  obs_date=intnx('month',obs_date,1);
  Indirect_Cost_Perc+rannor(1232176626)/1800;
end;
format obs_date date9. Ind: percent8.2;
run;

/* Create bar chart */

ods graphics / height=400 width=1300;
proc sgplot data=have;
vbarparm category=OBS_DATE response=Indirect_Cost_Perc / colormodel=(CXF2575F CXCAD5E5) colorresponse=sign;
yaxis label="Indirect Cost%";
xaxis label="Observation Date" interval=month fitpolicy=rotatethin;
keylegend / noborder;
run;

Result:

Is there anything you would like to change?

[MarieRall]

Thank you this solution works perfectly

[DanH_sas]

The key here is that a category axis for a line chart (VLINE/HLINE) or a bar chart (such as VBAR/HBAR) is "discrete" by default, even when presented with time data. However, if you just set TYPE=TIME on your XAXIS statement, the axis will treat the data as time data, and all of your time-axis options will work as expected. You can use a SERIES if your data is pre-summarized; but if it isn't, I would recommend switching back to a VLINE. If you are also overlaying a VBAR on the graph, you will want to switch it back.

Hope this helps!